Kyro Digital

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Liferay makes software that helps companies create digital experiences on web, mobile and connected devices. As a Product Marketing Manager, I drive the marketing strategy for Liferay Commerce, our digital commerce platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kyro Digital?

We hired Kyro to create an animated video that gave a brief, business value-oriented overview of our product Liferay Commerce. In the past, we've created these videos internally, but were looking to outsource in order to get the work done faster and reduce the time required from our marketing team.

What were your goals for this project?

We hoped to see an increase in demo requests through our website. Our secondary goal was to equip our sales team with a short video to send to prospects.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After reviewing the top 20 or so video production companies on Clutch, I created a short list of about 5 that had video samples matching the quality I was looking for, and also seemed to have experience with enterprise software companies.

From there, I requested pricing and talked through the project with each company. Justin from Kyro impressed me with his recommendations for the direction of our video and he was willing to work within our budget for the project.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

I provided our core value propositions and art files for our product. The only requirements I had were that it was animated and under 90 seconds. Kyro wrote the script and edited it based on my feedback, put together a storyboard for approval, then worked with Liferay's design team to ensure the animations matched our brand style.

Kyro also provided a short list of voice actors and let me pick which one to use. We went through several rounds of feedback on the early cuts, which was really helpful for me as it was hard to picture the flow of the video from the storyboard alone. Altogether, the team felt very dedicated to helping me understand how the video would come together and ensuring that it met my expectations for quality.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

I primarily communicated with Justin Sherman, but he brought some team members into emails or calls as needed. We went through several rounds of feedback on the script, storyboard and early cuts.

The team was always responsive and did a great job of working through my sometimes-vague feedback, especially when I knew I didn't like something but was having trouble articulating why. I didn't feel like I had to be a video expert to work with them, and that was a huge benefit for me (since I don't have time to be a video expert, and that's why we were hiring someone!).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

At launch, we featured the video at the top of our main product page and saw about 20% of visitors watch the video. 50% of viewers watched 2/3 of the video, 33% watch all the way to the end. This was a major improvement over our internal videos, where half of our viewers were dropping off by the 1/3 mark. We've also received great feedback on it internally.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I felt it was very effective, but I was the only stakeholder for Liferay, so that made feedback/approvals much easier.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Kyro is incredibly responsive, helpful, and reassuring throughout the project. They seem to be a small shop, but the video was very high quality. Altogether, the team felt very dedicated to helping me understand how the video would come together and ensuring that it met my expectations for quality.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only area for improvement was timeline. We missed the deadline by about a week for the final video. Overall, I think it took about 10 weeks from start to finish.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the manager at a tech company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kyro Digital?

We reached out to Kyro Digital to create an energetic and engaging promotional video for our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kyro Digital produced a video for our website, developing the concept and overall theme after sitting down with our team to discuss ideas. They provided some examples to help us choose the direction we wanted to move towards and incorporated special requests (i.e., hovering text). 

What is the team composition? 

We worked directly with Justin (Owner, Kyro Digital).

How did you come to work with Kyro Digital?

I searched online for local video production companies in Orange County and ultimately chose Kyro Digital based on their proximity, availability, and portfolio of work.

What is the status of this engagement?

They worked on the project between March–April 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Kyro Digital provided a quality promo video that's been well received by some of our advisors thus far. 

How did Kyro Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They excel at managing projects. Justin was very responsive and receptive to our feedback. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness was in line with the fast-paced nature of our company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing big comes to mind. I'd just encourage them to continue taking lots of notes at the first meeting with a client.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the demand generation manager for an ERP software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kyro Digital?

We hired Kyro Digital to create a company history and brand video for us.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of this project was to be able to archive our company’s more than 20-year history. We also wanted to increase our brand awareness.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team searched online for vendors. Of the three we evaluated, Kyro Digital was the best fit.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

Kyro Digital made the entire process very smooth. Based on our preliminary conversation, they created a mockup to show us their concept for the video. 

Once the team was assembled, we started shooting footage. Production lasted two days. We worked collaboratively on the revisions. They were very open to feedback and suggestions

After they finished filming, they sent us the raw footage. Using a video editing service, they tweaked the length from three hours to about 10-12 minutes for the final cut. They produced a large amount of assets to compile for our future use.  

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Kyro Digital provided a three-person crew, made up of the director and two camera operators. They were very open to feedback and suggestions

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

When we showed the video Kyro Digital produced to the rest of our company’s employees, we got very positive feedback. They all loved it!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Justin (Owner, Kyro Digital) and his team are great communicators. We worked seamlessly together. Kyro Digital supportively walked us through the entire process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Kyro Digital showed quite an outstanding level of professionalism and follow-through in our projects.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Moving forward, it would be great to have an actual storyboard beyond just an outline of the concept.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the video tech director at Compass Bible Church.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kyro Digital?

We often hire video agencies to help with various media projects. We initially hired Kyro to help capture video content for a youth winter camp recap.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We collaborated together on the project, which was predominantly a point and shoot endeavor that didn’t require any scripting. They captured all the activities on offer and put together a video to encapsulate everything that happened.

Most of the projects we’ve worked on since are similar. Our church has a lot of video needs, so they help with promotional material for social media, or they capture content at events and pass it along to our editors. They’ve also edited material for us in the past when we can’t handle the workload. The events vary, but include other projects for our kids’ and youth ministries.

What is the team composition?

We had one principal videographer who handled the whole process.

How did you come to work with Kyro Digital?

I’ve known our videographer for a few years now. He’s very talented, and Kyro produced great content.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent under $10,000 in total for all the projects they’ve done for us. The winter camp was recorded as a pro bono service.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in early 2018. The collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We usually send these videos to parents or other members of the church. The quality of the projects receives nothing but positive feedback.

How did Kyro Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very organized and communicative. We give them a lot of creative control, so even when we are busy and can’t reach out regularly, they do a great job. It’s part of the reason we continue to work with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their communication makes them stand out from other agencies, and they ask all the right questions. We don’t always have enough internal people to cover all of our needs, but Kyro is happy to step in and assist us. We tell them the requirements, and they take projects and run with them. Everything has worked out well with them, and we always know where projects stand.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We don’t have anything they should improve. We can’t always explain what we want, but they always understand our needs and are perfectly effective.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Work with them if you want an agency to let you collaborate and feel like an equal partner in the creation process. They are very communicative, and they’ll do whatever you need if you tell them exactly what you want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an e-commerce baby boutique.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kyro Digital?

I needed help creating short marketing videos for my company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They filmed and produced several little informational videos for use in our marketing efforts. We wanted content that was both informative and easily sharable on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. We scripted the videos and used a teleprompter to make the process go quickly.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of two. One was our main point of contact, and the other did the camera work and editing. Both were great.

How did you come to work with Kyro Digital?

They did some videos for my husband's company, and I liked the way they looked. He recommended them, so I decided to contact them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $2,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around November 2018, and we just finished the most recent video at the end of January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We just finished the videos, so they haven't posted yet. Kyro did very well in the editing process. They were very willing to make additional changes and communication was great. I had some specific requests and they were happy to accommodate me.

How did Kyro Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They were wonderful project managers. We mainly communicated via email or text, and communication was very easy.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When we originally signed the contract, we included a certain amount of editing time. They went above and beyond that to make sure I was happy with the end product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really; they were great to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Work with them. They're a great partner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was a content specialist for El Pollo Loco, a nation-wide Mexican restaurant chain. I developed online training content as we transitioned training materials from print to digital.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kyro Digital?

We wanted a video to market our digital learning curriculum. The video needed to emphasize our message around hospitality and guest service.

What were your goals for this project?

Kyro Digital needed to deliver a cinematic story about our brand, explaining how each role extends hospitality to customers. We wanted the training materials to emphasize customer service in addition to roles’ operational specifications.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had a previous relationship with Kyro Digital and knew they could deliver an emotional story.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Preproduction services included storyboarding, scripting, and logistics. They coached restaurant employees how to act in the videos. Kyro Digital then directed the video on site. Next, they sourced a voice actor and musical accompaniment. We collaborated during post-production as our team provided feedback on each version of the video.

What was the team composition?

Kyro Digital allocated a two-person team for pre-production. The production team included resources for camera operators, lighting, and sound.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

They delivered the video on time and within budget. Subsequently, the video received considerable positive feedback from our company’s leadership because it intuitively resonated with our team’s message. It is now the centerpiece of our training initiatives. Many other teams in the office have since sought to incorporate such messaging in other company initiatives.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was smooth and efficient. Kyro Digital prioritized our account with timely deliveries and constant communication. They were responsive to feedback and accommodated our timeline, which anticipated a major company conference.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

As an experienced video producer, I found their execution in the pre-production stage the most impressive. They helpfully planned how moments would play out on screen, and came up with creative ways to communicate our ideas. I expected seamless production, but I didn’t anticipate how quickly they got up to speed with our brand. Kyro Digital aligned with our identity and set us up for success in the later stages of production.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It may be tricky, but connect with each member of the team during filming. It’s worth emphasizing that the team made our employees feel comfortable on camera, which enhanced the video’s quality.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Kovach Marketing is a full-service marketing agency that primarily works in the homebuilding and real estate industries providing community marketing materials. I work as the studio manager and monitor day-to-day production schedules as well as larger projects like websites and videos.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kyro Digital?

We hired Kyro Digital for an internal video project, which included video concept, copywriting, storyboarding and animation.

What were your goals for this project?

For this project, we wanted a video that clearly expressed our message at a high quality. We were also looking for a local video partner that understood our vision and strived to meet expectations on a tight deadline.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I researched local video production companies and scheduled interviews with three. My team hit it off right away with Justin (Owner, Kyro Digital) and their digital team. We saw the value in forming a partnership during our first meeting because they understood our vision.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

Justin and his team wasted no time getting started on the project. First, they put together a project plan and began writing the script outline. Their team selected a voice actor and appropriate music for the video.

Once the script was finalized, their team assembled a couple of concepts for our review, and we selected our favorite. Then Kyro Digital moved on to animation and video production.

I worked thoroughly with Justin, relaying my team’s input, providing feedback and suggestions. We worked with an animator to refine the colors and other design specifics in the animation. As the project continued, I became extremely confident in what their team was working on.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Justin was the project manager. He was readily available for feedback and kept the project on track while setting reasonable expectations.

Kyro Digital did a fantastic job managing the production process from start to finish. Their project management allowed my team to focus on providing feedback. Their team was incredibly patient while we gave our input over several rounds of revisions. They even worked with us to rework and rebuild sections of animation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Kyro Digital’s team brought our company’s vision to life. We are incredibly confident in the final product.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow couldn’t have been more natural. For project feedback, Kyro Digital allowed us to review the video by commenting directly and marking the time code. I found this incredibly helpful and an easy way to communicate. We worked through more extensive changes in email and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The personal involvement and dedication to understanding our project were impressive. From the beginning, Kyro Digital made it clear that this wasn’t just another project, but that they had a real interest in understanding our company and vision. This came through during the entire partnership, and I believe it shows in the final video.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only way the process could be improved would be working together more. I look forward to seeing this become a lasting partnership on future projects.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the content marketing manager at Kofax. We’re a software technology company, providing different types of automation software to various industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kyro Digital?

We wanted to develop videos for evergreen content to better appeal to our customers. Using our sales engineers’ existing technical video, we engaged Kyro Digital to repackage the information into more of a demand generation format.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Over the past several months, they’ve produced a number of animated videos based on our specifications. We provided the scripts, writing a new intro and outro, and Kyro Digital brought our ideas to life. The team leveraged our materials along with the footage from our sales engineers to produce a series of customer-friendly videos. New illustrations and animations transformed the content into a more engaging viewer experience while also maintaining a cohesive look and feel. Currently, we continue to work with Kyro Digital to produce video content.

What is the team composition?

I primarily coordinate with Justin (CEO and Cinematographer, Kyro Digital).

How did you come to work with Kyro Digital?

At the time, we were looking for a production company that was flexible and agile. A staff member in our creative services department had used Kyro Digital for another project and recommended them. After reaching out to Justin, we moved forward with their team.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve used the finished videos in various channels, supporting our organic, paid, and lead nurturing strategies. We’ve also featured them on our website and blogs. So far, viewers have given a lot of great feedback, and we plan to continue producing content with Kyro Digital.

How did Kyro Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re flexible and easy to work with. With past vendors I’ve worked with, I had to note the time codes in an email and try to describe the changes I wanted. In contrast, Kyro Digital uses Vimeo’s collaboration tools to track feedback, which makes it easier to post comments directly on the screens. The team always makes sure to ask for clarification if they have any questions about my notes.

As for project logistics, they’re able to adapt to our deadlines and provide a flexible pricing structure. Kyro Digital is great about working with us if our budget is a bit stretched during certain months, and they’re committed to helping us achieve our goals.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Not only are they experts in their field, but they’re also an approachable team that’s vested in our projects. I appreciate having a production agency that works toward our success while still remaining flexible and affordable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be a bit more proactive in promoting their other skills. We’ve only seen what they could do for our specific video type, but I’d like to see what else they could recommend or suggest. Other than that, they’ve been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate with them throughout the project even if you come in with a specific idea in mind. They’re approachable and can often suggest new concepts or approaches that might be a good fit. If something is outside of their scope, I’m sure they’re able to recommend alternative solutions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the development manager for a company that sells personal auto insurance. I oversee software development, business development, and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kyro Digital?

We wanted to make educational videos about our different types of coverage and to answer some FAQs. We needed a partner to run the production.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we first approached Kyro, we had a list of video topics and general ideas we wanted to cover. They helped evolve those ideas into scripts and storyboards. So far, Kyro has created ten live action videos with motion graphics. They’re in both English and Spanish and explain the coverage we offer.

Kyro also helped in all the other production aspects. They booked the studio, assisted in casting the talent, hired a directory of photography, etc. We’ve finished the coverage videos and have now started on a new project for our FAQs. We plan on producing 30 new videos with Kyro.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three main people: an editor, the producer, and the director of photography.

How did you come to work with Kyro Digital?

A different video company we’d worked with before recommended them, since they couldn’t offer what we were looking for. We liked the quality of Kyro’s work, and they offered the best value within our price range, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in February, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We haven’t launched the videos yet because they’re still in post-production. They’re great quality, though, especially considering the price point we’re paying.

How did Kyro Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great. They outline what will happen, so expectations are clear and straight-forward.

They meet their targets without any problems and respond well to feedback. We exceeded our original timeline, but that was mainly on our end—we asked for some extra changes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They communicate well and respond quickly to any requests we make.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could probably hire 1–2 more staff members because their company seems to be growing rapidly. Other than that, we haven’t had many issues.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Be collaborative and open. Kyro’s highly creative, so the more feedback you give, the more on-target the final product will be.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CMO at US Storage Centers. We operate in 17 states and have 130–140 locations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kyro Digital?

We were looking for a company to create a brand video for our home page.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They made two videos for us. For our brand video, we had only two days to develop a storyboard, shoot the footage, edit it, and produce the final cut. They came up with a proposal and used the basic concepts I gave them to develop the script and the storyboard. It was a live action video: they interviewed one of our managers who presented her perspective of our company. I make films myself, so I'm very picky about the production process, but I was impressed by how well they were able to interpret my vision.

The second video they made was a Christmas video about Santa Claus. In this video, Santa, who is storing kids' presents in one of our locations so that kids can’t find them, bumps into a mom and they have a short conversation. It's a two-minute video, which it funny, cute, and underscores the value of Christmas. I shared my idea with Kyro and sent them the initial script. They further developed my idea and the following day we started shooting. They turned everything around very quickly.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Justin (Sherman, Owner and Producer, Kyro Digital), but there were more people behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with them?

They were recommended to me by someone who works in the film industry.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between October–November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Our Christmas video was a big hit and went viral on social media. We created a special landing page on our website for that video and received the highest traffic we’d ever seen. We got great feedback.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They were always on time and stayed within our budget. Besides, they were easy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They care about what they do. Also, they were able to interpret our vision and realize that on screen. Anyone can operate a camera and learn the mechanics of filmmaking, but it's extremely difficult to realize the vision.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. They performed exceptionally well under pressure.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear understanding of your vision. I was very specific about what I wanted from both videos. The more specific you are, the better they can interpret your vision and fill in the details. Trust them to be artists and let them do what they're best at.